George Pérez, original covers and top costumers are among the highlights

Los Angeles, CA (February 7, 2012) Hero Initiative, the non-profit organization that aids comic creators in medical and financial need, will be adding to the craziness at the Orlando MegaCon, February 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center located at 9800 International Drive in Orlando, Fla.

When you get to the convention, make sure you get your picture taken with the Hero Initiative costumers just inside the D1 lobby doors. These peeps know their stuff, and they’re some of the top costumers in the nation.

The one and only George Pérez will be at the Hero booth all weekend, located at #531. Make sure to get your sketches and signatures from George here! And while you’re waiting, you’ll have the first chance to see the NEW Fantastic Four #600 original covers, our newest “100 covers” project!

Art lovers will NOT want to miss the FINAL leg of Hero’s original JLA cover auctions! The last 34 covers go up on the block Friday, Feb. 17 at 6:30 PM in Room 240c. Be there!

And to top off your weekend, the Geeks of Comedy are there to tickle your funny bone. Check out their great comedy show Saturday, Feb. 18 at 10 PM in Room 221B&E.

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book artists and craftsmen in need. Hero Initiative creates a financial safety net for yesterday’s creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.

Since its inception, The Hero Initiative has had the good fortune to grant over $500,000 to the comics veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today. For more information, visit www.heroinitiative.org or call 626-676-6354.

MegaCon, the largest comic book, anime, gaming and multi media event in the Southeast, is pleased to make its initial announcement of guests. MegaCon will take place February 17th – 19th, 2012 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.

MegaCon is proud to announce the appearance of Kate Mulgrew who played Captain Kathryn Janeway from the TV series Star Trek: Voyager

Skottie Young – Comic book artist. Currently working on Marvel’s Wizard of Oz adaptations, including The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Marvelous Land of Oz, and The Ozma of Oz. Previous works include: New Warriors, Human Torch, Spider-Man: Legend of the Spider Clan and New X-Men. He’s done covers for books like Cable/Deadpool, Spider-Man, Deadpool, Iron Man, and many more! Skottie will be on hand to sign for fans.

DC NATION
6:30-7:30pm, Room 470b
The DC NATION returns to Chicago! Co-Publisher Dan DiDio and some of comics’ top talents give you the inside scoop on what’s new from DC Entertainment. DCU, VERTIGO and MAD will all be discussed, so come on by and join the nation!

VERTIGO
1:30-2:30pm, Room 470b
Find out what compelling tales comics’ edgiest imprint has in store for you in the months to come! Join Senior Group Editor Shelly Bond, Scott Snyder, Bill Willingham, and others for a discussion of your favorite VERTIGO titles.

DRAWING DC
5:30-6:30pm, Room 474
Superstar artists Ivan Reis, Doug Mahnke and Tyler Kirkham show off their distinctive styles while drawing on a machine that projects their work on a giant screen. Check out this unique presentation that will give you an inside glimpse into the artistic process!

BRIGHTEST DAY
1:00-2:00pm, Room 474
Executive Editor Eddie Berganza, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, and others will reveal insights and hints about the epic Brightest Day story – and where the event will lead next!

FABLES: THE FIRST 100 – ONE-ON-ONE WITH BILL WILLINGHAM
4:00-5:00pm, Room 470a
The mind behind Vertigo’s mega-popular series comes to Chicago! Bill Willingham is joined by VP – Marketing, John Cunningham, for an in-depth look back at the first 100 issues of Fables – as well as a glimpse at what’s to come!

March 14, 2011: C2E2 – short for the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo – is the latest convention spanning the greatest in the worlds of comics and pop entertainment. Hero Initiative, the non-profit organization raising money for comic creators in need, will be joining in the fun March 18-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. Hero will be joined by our special guest, artist John McCrea, making his first North American appearance in eight years. John is best known for Hitman, Spider-Man and Hulk Smash!, and will be signing and sketching all weekend at Hero’s booth, #457.

You can purchase your tickets to C2E2 using Hero Initiative’s special link online at:

Use this link, and C2E2 will donate a portion of each ticket purchase to Hero at NO extra cost to you—a true win/win!

In addition, Hero is displaying all 100 of its original New Avengers #1 covers for the first and only time at C2E2 in a gala event sponsored by Chicago’s own Graham Crackers Comics. The special unveiling will take place from 6 PM to 8 PM on Saturday, March 19 in Room 185bc of the West Building of McCormick Place. Admission is a mere $5, or $3 if you show up wearing any Avengers costume. Tickets will be on-sale at the door starting at 5 PM. And, be advised, only 200 tickets will be sold! Your admission also gets you a free raffle ticket to win a special New Avengers #1 wine bottle, covered in sketches from a variety of Avengers artists! Additional raffle tickets will be available for sale at the party. This star-studded event will be attended by Phil Hester, Jamal Igle, John McCrea, Andrew Pepoy, Gordon Purcell, Joe Quesada, Alex Saviuk, Tim Seeley, Mark Waid, and more. Spend your Saturday evening with some amazing people for an astonishing cause!

It’s arrived! Archie: 50 Times an American Icon, the collection of Hero’s original Archie #600 covers, will be available for the first time ever at C2E2 in both hardcover and softcover editions! Grab your copy and get it signed by contributors Dave Hillman, Andrew Pepoy, Cliff Chiang, Jill Thompson and Dan Parent, Friday at 6:15 at booth #457!

And if getting inked is your thing, check out the eBay auction to win BOTH custom Cliff Chiang art and a tattoo based on the art by tattoo artist Brian Stringer at: http://qurls.com?i=50010

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strict to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterday’s creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.

Since its inception, The Hero Initiative has had the good fortune to grant over $400,000 to the comic book veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today. For more information, visit www.heroinitiative.org or call 626-676-6354.

Planet Comicon is the largest pop culture and comic book event in this area of the Midwest. The convention will feature media personalities, comic book creators as well as a large vendor area with a variety of collectibles for sale.

ARCHAIA ENDING THE 2010 CONVENTION SEASON IN STYLE AT NEW YORK COMIC CON

PUBLISHER WILL HOST OVER 30 CREATORS, DEBUT FIVE HARDCOVER BOOKS, ANNOUNCE TWO NEW PROJECTS AND PUT ON THREE PANELS

Los Angeles, CA (October 7, 2010) – Capping off a successful 2010 convention season and eager to win over more fans to its brand of high-quality comics and graphic novels, Archaia Entertainment announced it will have a huge presence at New York Comic Con, taking place Oct. 8-10 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City.

In addition to setting up an oversized 20’ x 30’ booth on the show floor, Archaia will host over 30 creators for autograph signings; debut six new titles for the first time anywhere, including five graphic novel hardcover books; present three entertaining panels throughout the weekend and announce two, new projects; and co-sponsor several off-site events to celebrate the releases of RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN and MOON LAKE.

“We are thrilled to appear at New York Comic Con, the second largest comic book and pop culture convention in the country, to reward our East Coast-based fans with some cool products and giveaways, and to attract new readers with our line of high-quality titles,” said Archaia Marketing Manager, Mel Caylo. “We’re hoping to end this year’s convention season with a great showing to generate buzz and excitement in the comics industry!”

The six titles debuting at New York Comic Con are:

· AWAKENING VOL. 2 – The follow-up to the critically acclaimed Awakening Vol. 1 concludes the gripping storyline of what may or may not be a zombie outbreak in a small town.

· FEEDING GROUND #1 – The debut of the first issue of this brand-new miniseries about werewolves terrorizing the Devil’s Highway, a corridor along the Mexico-Arizona border used by illegal immigrants. Presented both in English and Spanish!

· THE GOD MACHINE – A stylistic Gothic adventure about a young man’s journey to save his girlfriend’s soul.

· MOON LAKE – This eclectic collection of horror stories mixes elements from Tales from the Crypt and “Twilight Zone” and includes contributions from some of the best creators in horror comics like Brian Holguin, Stef Hutchinson and Jeffrey Zornow.

· RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN – A visual tour de force that presents a modern twist on classic fairy tales, utilizing an incredible decoupage art style that combines steampunk fantasy and science fiction with Art Nouveau for a truly unique and groundbreaking book.

The following Archaia creators will be on hand at various times at the Archaia booth (#2031) to sign autographs, sell exclusive items and hand out cool giveaways:

Listed below are the three panels Archaia will present at New York Comic Con:

Friday, 3:30-4:30pm
ARCHAIA BLACK LABEL
The new Archaia Black Label specializes in co-developing intellectual properties with prestigious partners who are seeking to realize their ideas through the use of Archaia’s resources. Join Archaia as they show exclusive preview images and discuss current and upcoming Archaia Black Label titles, including: DAYS MISSING: KESTUS with Roddenberry Productions’ Trevor Roth, writer Phil Hester and artist David Marquez; LUCID with creator/writer and “True Blood” actor Michael McMillian; MOON LAKE with creator/co-writer Dan Fogler; and MR. MURDER IS DEAD with creator/writer Victor Quinaz. Plus, two exclusive announcements, including one in association with video game publisher Vogster Entertainment. There will be surprise guests! You don’t want to miss this! Moderated by Archaia editor-in-chief Stephen Christy. Panel Room 8 (1A23)

Sunday, 12-1pm
ARCHAIA ALL AGES
All ages books are not necessarily children’s books—they’re books that readers of all ages can enjoy! Join Archaia for updates, previews and exciting new information on several of its All Ages titles, including: FRAGGLE ROCK VOL. 2 with editor Tim Beedle; MOUSE GUARD with creator/writer/artist David Petersen; MOUSE GUARD ROLEPLAYING GAME BOX SET with Petersen and game designer Luke Crane; and RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN with writer Jim McCann and artist Janet Lee. Moderated by Archaia editor-in-chief Stephen Christy. Panel Room 5 (1A17-18)

During New York Comic Con, Archaia will also co-sponsor several off-site events that are open to the public to mark the release of two of its books:

RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN Book Release and Art Show
Thursday, Oct. 7, 7-10 p.m.
Alice’s Tea Cup, 102 West 73rd St., New York, NY 10023
To recognize the release of Archaia’s new hardcover fairy tale, RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN, writer Jim McCann and artist Janet Lee will display and offer for sale several of the decoupage art pieces that were created for the book. Join us for scones, cake, tea and, after 8 p.m., wine (courtesy of Bluebird Wines), as we celebrate this event on the eve of New York Comic Con! Admission is free!

The MOON LAKE Gallery at BAR 13
Saturday, Oct. 9 and Sunday Oct. 10, 12-5 p.m. each day
Bar 13, 35 east 13th St. Union Square, New York, NY 10003
Illustrations and images from the MOON LAKE graphic novel are on display, all day Saturday and Sunday from 12-5 pm. Admission is free! Complimentary beverages!

MOON LAKE Live Radio Play Performance and HYSTERICAL PSYCHO Screening
Saturday, Oct. 9. 11 p.m.-12 a.m.
Cinema Village Theater, 22 East 12th St., New York, NY 10003
Here’s your chance to watch a graphic novel performed before your very eyes! Before television, audiences were entertained by radio actors as they performed their favorite stories over the airwaves. Harkening back to that era, actor Dan Fogler and members of the Studio13 acting group will perform stories from Fogler’s MOON LAKE graphic novel LIVE! You have to see this! Admission is free! The performance will be followed by a midnight screening of Fogler’s film “Hysterical Psycho,” on which the MOON LAKE graphic novel is based. There will be a $10 charge for the movie.

As you can see, Archaia is looking to end the 2010 convention season with a bang, and we hope you’ll be there to experience it with us!

Image Comics is taking the show on the road this weekend, making its way across the country for New York Comic-Con 2010! Come by booth 1647 to pick up your favorite Image trades and exclusive merchandise for THE WALKING DEAD!

Friday
4:30-5:30pm, Room 1A14
Image Comics: The Writers
Some of Image Comics’ favorite writers get together to describe the writing process for their books, from inception to publication. Join juggernauts Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead), Nick Spencer (Morning Glories), Ron Marz (Firebreather vs. Dragon Prince), and Steven T. Seagle (The Crusades) for a discussion about writing, followed by Q&A.

Sunday
12:00-1:00pm, Room 1A24
Creating Comics the Image Comics Way
How do Image Creators make the best books in the business? Join us for a roundtable discussion of creator-owned comics, with an insider’s perspective on how ownership makes the creative process more fulfilling. Jim Valentino (ShadowHawk), Greg Capullo (Haunt), Marc Guggenheim (Halcyon), Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash), Joe Casey (Officer Downe), and Ben Templesmith (Choker) share their thoughts on publishing with Image Comics.

Come support Free Expression, the 2010 LIBERTY ANNUAL, and mingle with the greatest talents in comics at the CBLDF’s NYCC Welcome Party, presented by Image Comics and The Beat! We’ll have special gifts, copies of the Liberty Annual and special open bar bracelets!

Starting at 8 p.m., this event is free and open to everyone! With a suggested donation of $10 or more, you will receive a special gift bag, full of goodies from Image Comics & CBLDF! In addition to great gifts, an open bar will be available for donations of $30 and $50. Preordering bracelets is strongly encouraged, as we’ll have a very small quantity of them at the door. For information on Open Bar bracelets, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/38rgblr.

Start your New York Comic Con off right by celebrating with the CBLDF, Image Comics, and The Beat. The CBLDF’s NYCC Welcome Party will feature surprise guest artists from the pages of CBLDF’s LIBERTY ANNUAL 2010, as well as a chance to meet comics’ best creators, insiders, and fellow fans, in a star-spangled festival of good comics and free speech!

Don’t miss Image Comics at New York Comic-Con 2010, October 8-10, at booth 1647!

LOS ANGELES, Calif., October 1, 2010 – Top Cow Productions, Inc. proudly announced today the publisher will be exhibiting at New York Comic-Con, the East Coast’s biggest and most exciting comic convention brought together in the Jacob K. Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan, New York from October 8-10th.

Meet the Top Cow team and creators at booth #2129 for convention exclusives, preview books and free goodies, and celebrate the success of this year’s action-packed event series Artifacts and the relaunch of Rest with them.

Top Cow publisher Filip Sablik is hosting a panel on Saturday, October 9th, “Top Cow: We Create…Events,” at 1:15pm-2:15pm in Room 1A06. Joining Sablik will be Marz and Broussard to discuss the runaway event success Artifacts. Also joining the panel will be television and movie star Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes) and his producing partner Russ Cundiff of DiVide Pictures to talk about the return of Rest. Plus, a special appearance by American Original’s Jeff Katz (Pilot Season: Crosshair) with more exciting news from GeekWeek.com and American Original to share. Find out why at Top Cow, we create.

Following the panel, Ventimiglia and Cundiff will be joined by Rest writer Mark Powers, Rest artist Marco Castiello and Berserker artist Jeremy Haun in the convention’s main signing area. In order to participate in the signing session, NYCC attendees must attend the Top Cow panel to get a ticket for the signing and must purchase either a Rest or Berserker item at the signing.

At the Top Cow booth #2129, the publisher will have the following new products available for fans: Artifacts #2 New York Comic-Con exclusive cover by Stjepan Sejic, Witchblade #138 New York Comic-Con exclusive cover by Stjepan Sejic and the Rest New York Comic-Con Exclusive Hardcover. Additionally, Top Cow will have several exclusive trade paperback bellyband packages and brand new exclusive lithographs.

For more updates on Top Cow at New York Comic-Con, you can follow Top Cow on Twitter @TopCow or visit us at www.topcow.com.

About Top Cow Productions Inc.

Top Cow Productions, Inc. (www.topcow.com), a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise, WITCHBLADE, was TNT’s #1 original film of 2000 and the subsequent TV series was released on DVD on July 29, 2008. WITCHBLADE is also the first American property to be fully adapted in Japan as an original anime and manga by Studio GONZO in 2006. Top Cow’s other flagship property, THE DARKNESS, was developed into a major next-generation video game release by Starbreeze and 2K Games and achieved platinum sales status. WANTED, an Eisner-nominated miniseries published by Top Cow from 2003-2005, is now a major motion picture from Universal Pictures starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman. Virtually all of Top Cow’s other properties are in development as feature films, live-action television, animation or video games. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, magnets, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die-cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, video games and roleplaying games.